Review: Fraud by Lily White

June 30, 2020 by · Leave a Comment

FRAUD
Series: Antihero Inferno #2
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Author: Lily White
Release Date: June 24, 2020

Eighth Circle.
Fraud.
Also known as Gabriel Dane.

He is a ray of sunshine that warms your heart with kind eyes and a dazzling smile.

Don’t let him fool you with that silver tongue or lure you in with a body that draws every woman’s eye. This man is fluent in deception and a devil who only offers pretty lies.

Gabriel is my old nemesis.
I’m the girl that always fought back.
He has every reason to hate me as much as I hate him.

Now that he found me, he’s determined to make me pay for our past.

Except, there are two small details Gabriel doesn’t know that will be his ultimate downfall:

There are no rules when it comes to our war.
And I’ve learned to lie just as good as him.

***Each novel in the series depicts a unique romance, but the plots through each book connect in one world. For the best experience, read the series in order.

Nine ruthless men. Nine unrepentant sinners. Nine irresistible manipulators.

AMAZON

I hate to break this to you, Ivy, but payback is a bitch.”
Smiling at that, I turn my head just enough that the corners of our mouths touch. “I hate to break this to you, Gabriel, but so am I.”

This series has quickly become my book crack of choice and I’m officially obsessed. I’ve said it after reading the first book, and I’ll say it again, because these books are seriously crackalicious. Like finger-lickin’ good. You need to read these damn books is what I’m telling you here. Seriously. Stop whatever else you’re doing and read it. READ IT. You’ll thank me after. Trust me.

A broken prince. The spoiled princess. And a war where the players had two different objectives.

Gabe is the epitome of a broken prince. He hides a wealth of pain and dark secrets behind his charming smile and lethal lies. The man lies as easily as he breathes and is the go-to when it comes to the inferno boys needing someone charmed into their bidding. He’s handsome, cunning, and the ultimate liar. Where the rest of the Inferno men look their part, Gabe is deceiving. Because he looks like the easy going one, when he’s anything but.

He’s just a monster disguised in gorgeous wrappings. A man that wouldn’t know the truth if it slapped him in the face.

Ivy has been his favorite pawn to play with for years. Their back and forth begins when they were just kids and Ivy saw something that Gabe punishes her to this day. But Ivy is so beyond a pawn. This is a woman that gives as good as she gets. I’m saying the woman is fiendish in her own right and I absolutely loved how much hell she gives Gabe. She doesn’t take any of his BS lying down and when he hits with one of his twisted games, she makes sure to hit back twice as hard.

The war we have is a drug, and I’ve always been an addict.

Ivy is impossible not to love. She’s fierce and takes no sh*t. She’s beautiful but vulnerable with plenty of daddy issues the daughter of a powerful yet corrupt aspiring politician can have. She wants to be the good girl her father needs and leaves behind her party girl ways in the past. But Gabe also brings out the worst in her. And when he comes calling for an old bet, well, the gloves definitely come off on their games.

We’re two opposing forces, strong enough when we’re together that lightning cracks the pristine skies, and the earth shakes beneath our feet. We’re destructive. Disastrous. The blinding chaos of a tempest storm.

Ivy once went to Tanner for a favor and now years later, the Inferno is here to collect. But Ivy is faced with an impossible choice of doing the right thing and betraying her father or running from the truth that keeps creeping its way up.

This is most definitely not meant to be read as a standalone. There’s an continuing story arc that continues through each book. So while each book is a new couple, the story line continues. Secrets continue to emerge regarding the truth behind Luca’s father’s death and the involvement of the guys’ fathers. It’s a dark and twisted game full of twists that I couldn’t get enough of.

Gabe and Ivy burn up the pages together. Their chemistry is incendiary. I loved their hate lust almost as much as when they give into the temptation and burn up the sheets together. I loved how Ivy’s fierce nature balances out Gabe’s twisted charm. She makes him work for everything. For every little morsel of trust she grudgingly gives him with time. I’m so invested in this series, it’s not even funny. Every time I finish a book, my need for the next one is rabid. I just can’t get enough. Of course the man I’m absolutely dying for (Jase) will be second to last. But I’m absolutely giddy to get my grabby little hands on Ezra’s story next.

If you’re looking for a deliciously twisty and sexy romance with plenty of angst, chemistry, and all of the banter, you need this book in your life!

Lily White is a romance writer who likes to dabble on the taboo side of eroticism. She is most known for her Masters Series, Target This, Wishing Well, and Asylum. In addition to dark romance Lily writes contemporary romance, taboo romance, and psychological thrillers. Lily enjoys stretching her writing muscles by continuing to challenge herself with each book she publishes.

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Review: Seducing The Enemy by Shayla Black

June 29, 2020 by ·

SEDUCING THE ENEMY
Series: Forbidden Confessions #4
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Shayla Black
Release Date: June 25, 2020

Seducing the Enemy, an all-new sexy, must-read forbidden romance from New York Times bestselling author Shayla Black is available now.

Once he takes his pound of flesh from her, will she steal his heart?

I’m Jett, self-made billionaire.
I have everything I could ever want—except revenge.
Eight years ago, my best friend and I planned to start a business together…
Until I fell for his little sister.
After he found out, he stole my idea and made a fortune.
She took his side and stabbed me in the back.
Now he’s in financial straits, while I’m richer than I ever dreamed.
So I made Whitney a bargain: forty million dollars in exchange for a week of her body.
But now that she’s in my bed, what if it’s not animosity I feel?
What if I fall for her again?

Enjoy this Forbidden Confession. HEA Guaranteed!

AMAZON | iBOOKS | NOOK | KOBO | GOOGLE PLAY

Dallas
4 p.m.
Jett

She’s late.

Maybe she’s not coming, a$$*#!%.

That’s a distinct possibility.

What did you expect? You’re the enemy.

I am, and she’s too smart not to realize I’m springing a trap. She also knows I’m powerful enough to destroy her and all she holds dear.

But I’d rather not. Does she know that, too?

I shove the thought away. What’s in Whitney Chancellor’s mind—and heart—now shouldn’t matter. She made a choice, and I’m going to make her regret it.

You made a choice, too. And she probably hates your guts for it.

But that doesn’t change anything. If she doesn’t show today, I’ll keep coming at her. I have ways to bend her to my will.

She will give me what I want.

I tap an impatient thumb on the charred wood of the handscraped bar. The faux-rustic room is designed to be a “laid-back” watering hole, but since it sits in the middle of a horribly pretentious hotel in an exclusive, five-star part of town, I’m calling bullsh!t.

I’ve been here ten minutes, and I already despise this place.

You’re just nervous.

No sh!t. But this site is less than two miles from her house, so I’m here.

It’s been eight years, and I traveled halfway around the world for this. For her.

That doesn’t mean she’ll come, especially since you ordered her to.

In hindsight, that may not have been my best strategy, but cushioning my approach would have been counterproductive. It’s best if she understands I’m a world-class bastard, and nothing—not even her—will soften me.

Whitney has probably discerned that. After all, I’ve put her in a terrible position. One of two things will happen next: she’ll sweetly capitulate like she seemingly did all those years ago…or she’ll tell me to go f*ck myself. With her, I’ve got a fifty-fifty shot.

I’m almost hoping she chooses the latter.

At the sound of heels clicking across the tile floors in the otherwise empty bar, I snap around.

And I nearly drop my jaw.

I’ll send a car to pick you up at precisely nine o’clock. Bring nothing with you. Anything you need, I’ll provide. When you arrive, the front door will be unlocked. Once inside, you will strip. And you will kneel. Then you will wait for me. You will be completely mine. While you’re with me, you will forget two things: any other man who’s ever fucked you and the word no. You will do anything I desire with, to, or for me during our week together. Am I clear?”

*dirty shiver*

Well, then. Wasn’t this just utterly delicious? Dare I say, this was one of the most satisfying novellas I’ve read in a while. Is it a little cliche? Sure! Did I care? Not in the least. Shayla Black is my go to for yummy uber alphas and the heroines that give them hell. What can make it better? A second chance romance with a deliciously dirty revenge plot.

Whitney has just made a deal with the devil. When Jett was 21 years old, he fell fast and hard for the beautiful younger woman. They shared a stolen kiss that ultimately cost him everything. Now, years later, he’s back to exact his pound of flesh. Whitney’s brother betrayal is still a fresh wound. And when he can use the woman that he used to love to exact revenge on the man that cost him everything? Well that’s even better. He offers Whitney a deal; a week submitting to him, and in exchange he’ll bail out her brothers $40 MIL mistake.

Whitney is not about to give in so easy and is content to give him hell. Jett thinks that his feeling are long ago buried, but everything floats back to the surface the second they’re back in each others orbit. This was sexy and oh so fun. It was quick paced and oh so satisfying. I devoured it with a giddy little smile on my face.

Shayla Black is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of nearly eighty novels. For over twenty years, she’s written contemporary, erotic, paranormal, and historical romances via traditional, independent, foreign, and audio publishers. Her books have sold millions of copies and been published in a dozen languages.

Raised an only child, Shayla occupied herself with lots of daydreaming, much to the chagrin of her teachers. In college, she found her love for reading and realized that she could have a career publishing the stories spinning in her imagination. Though she graduated with a degree in Marketing/Advertising and embarked on a stint in corporate America to pay the bills, her heart has always been with her characters. She’s thrilled that she’s been living her dream as a full-time author for the past eight years.

Shayla currently lives in North Texas with her wonderfully supportive husband, her daughter, and two spoiled tabbies. In her “free” time, she enjoys reality TV, reading, and listening to an eclectic blend of music.

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· Filed Under: All Reviews, Contemporary Romance · Tagged With: , ,

Review: Make Me Hate You by Kandi Steiner

June 25, 2020 by ·

MAKE ME HATE YOU
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Kandi Steiner
Release Date: June 25, 2020

If he kisses me right now, I’ll drown.

Every sip of air is shallow and burning, because in the arms of my best friend’s brother, I’m the closest I’ve ever been to sin.

His eyes flick to my lips, and I remember the first time I tasted him, seven years ago before I left this town and vowed never to return. His hands grip my waist, and I remember the pain when he rejected me, when my entire world crashed down at his command. His jaw clenches, and my senses come alive with one stinging reminder.

I’m not his to kiss, and he’s not mine.

I tried to stay away from Tyler Wagner, putting an entire country between us. But when his sister’s wedding brings us back to the same town, to the same house, I can’t avoid him, no matter how hard I try.

He’s always there, his dark eyes bewitching, luring me into their depths. The memory of us pulls me under like a rip current, and when he flashes that smile, I lose my breath, along with my will, unable to escape his grip and find the surface.

Now, hours before our plus ones arrive for the wedding, I’m in his arms, begging him to make me hate him, knowing he never could.

If he kisses me right now, I’ll drown.

And I’ll take him down with me.

Make Me Hate You is a best friend’s brother romance that will have you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

AMAZON

Seven miles and an hour later, and all the anxiety I’d felt the night before was completely gone.

At least, until I rounded the foyer into the kitchen and saw I wasn’t the only one up early on Sunday morning.

Tyler sat at the kitchen island, still in his navy blue sweat pants and simple white t-shirt, with one foot planted on the ground and the other hooked casually on the lower bar of his stool. His hair was an absolute disaster, the boyish waves sticking up this way and that. He had both hands wrapped around a mug of hot tea, his eyes focused on the iPad he had propped up in front of him, and BlueTooth headphones in his ears.

At first, he didn’t notice me, and I slowed my steps, standing silently at the entry of the kitchen and watching him. I’d done everything I could last night to avoid his gaze, to not look at him, and now that I had a stolen moment to observe, I found my chest tightening again, my mouth dry and sticky.

His brown eyes were hidden beneath bent brows, expression serious as he watched whatever was on the screen. Small lines creased the edges of his eyes — lines that weren’t there when we were kids. He’d grown into a man somehow, overnight, it seemed. Then again, it had been years.

I’d seen him on social media, watched from afar as his YouTube channel took off. I’d seen pictures of him on Instagram — traveling through Europe, hiking in Australia, swimming in hot pools in Iceland. I didn’t follow him, of course, but his profile was public, which allowed me to flip through picture after picture on the nights when I was a pathetic mess.

But, pictures and videos didn’t do justice to the actual man who sat studiously at that kitchen island.

He was something between the boy I used to love and the man I’d never know, familiar and unreachable all at once.

Tyler shook his head at something, letting out a frustrated sigh and kicking back the bar stool a little before taking a sip of his tea. His eyes flicked to me then, back to the screen, and then, he did a double take, this time fixing his gaze on me and leaving it there.

Something changed in his eyes when he looked at me, like a shadow passed over them and held him captive. I was dressed in jogger shorts and a modest tank top, but from the way he watched me, I might as well have been completely naked.

That’s what his gaze did to me, what it always had done.

It stripped me bare.

It’s you who brings me pain. It’s you who is killing me. It’s you, and us,” I added, motioning between us. “It’s this thing that never was, but always is, that never will be and will never not be.”

I have a confession to make: *whispers* I’m a Kandi Steiner virgin *looks around for side eyes*

Clearly I’ve been living under a rock, okay? Quit judging me. I finally rectified my mistake so better late than never, right? RIGHT? But I digress. The second I read the blurb and heard whispers of angst, I was all over this book like a fly on poop. What? Bad analogy? OK, let’s go with white on rice here then. Jeez. What I’m trying to say is this angst whore was all over it. A second chance romance with best friend’s older brother and all of the feels? SIGN ME UP.

Jasmine and Tyler grew up together. And while Jaz was best friends with his sister, Tyler being just 11 months older became an escape for her and one of her closest friends as well. She longed for the sort of family her best friend had while dealing with the shambles of her own. Then one night of comfort and passion lead to the irreparable break of her and Tyler’s friendship. Jasmine ran as far as she could from their town after graduating high school and hasn’t turned back. Now, years later, she’s back in town for her best friend’s wedding and forced to deal with all of the things that were left unsaid between her and Tyler.

The chemistry and pull between her and Tyler is there the second they set eyes on one another again. But Jasmine has a wonderful boyfriend she’s in love with and Tyler is dating someone as well. The pull between them is undeniable, but the chasm of all the things that were left unsaid is too wide.

Admittedly, this wasn’t as angsty as I was expecting considering the dynamic between the two of them. It’s emotional, yes, but the angst that I was craving that would make me into an anxiety driven mess wasn’t quite there.

I enjoyed the story and was rooting for Tyler and Jasmine. I loved that Tyler had this sweet and vulnerable side to him. It was refreshing and endearing. Jasmine also had a good head on her shoulders and I loved that she knew what had to be done the second she realized her feelings for Tyler were not as resolved as she thought they were. They still went on a merry-go-round of push and pulls, but I was so here for it. While I enjoyed the story, it didn’t have as glued to the pages as I had hoped. I was invested, but I was also hoping for a little more oomph. Don’t get me wrong, this definitely brought plenty of feels. I suppose this angst addict just wanted a little more HURT. God, I’m such a masochist. If you’re looking for a second chance romance with an emotional punch, this will certainly deliver.

Kandi Steiner is a bestselling author and whiskey connoisseur living in Tampa, FL. Best known for writing “emotional roller-coaster” stories, she loves bringing flawed characters to life and writing about real, raw romance — in all its forms. No two Kandi Steiner books are the same, and if you’re a lover of angsty, emotional, and inspirational reads, she’s your gal.

An alumna of the University of Central Florida, Kandi graduated with a double major in Creative Writing and Advertising/PR with a minor in Women’s Studies. She started writing back in the 4th grade after reading the first Harry Potter installment. In 6th grade, she wrote and edited her own newspaper and distributed it to her classmates. Eventually, the principal caught on and the newspaper was quickly halted, though Kandi tried fighting for her “freedom of press.” She took particular interest in writing romance after college, as she has always been a die-hard hopeless romantic, and likes to highlight all the challenges of love as well as the triumphs.

When Kandi isn’t writing, you can find her reading books of all kinds, talking with her extremely vocal cat, and spending time with her friends and family. She enjoys live music, traveling, anything heavy in carbs, beach days, movie marathons, craft beer, and sweet wine — not necessarily in that order.

Connect with Kandi:
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Kandi Steiner may be coming to a city near you! Check out her “events” tab to see all the signings she’s attending in the near future:
www.kandisteiner.com/events

· Filed Under: All Reviews, Contemporary Romance · Tagged With: , ,

Review: Wild Highway by Devney Perry

June 24, 2020 by · Leave a Comment

WILD HIGHWAY
Series: Runaway #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Devney Perry
Release Date: June 23, 2020

From USA Today Bestselling Author Devney Perry comes a small town, second chance romance.

Gemma Lane built an empire. Not a small feat, considering her home as a teenager was a makeshift tent in a California junkyard. She’s dedicated her life to turning pennies into millions. She has power, fortune and prestige.

And she’s leaving it all behind.

Gemma is headed across the country in her best friend’s Cadillac when a detour in Montana reunites her with old acquaintances and a man who hasn’t changed. Easton Greer challenges her every word and tests her every limit because he doesn’t believe she’s really abandoned her riches. She ignores his snide remarks and muttered censure—until the day she’s ready to return to the wild highway, and Easton taunts her to stay.

She’ll prove to him she’s not just running back to her wealthy life, that she’s more than her money. She’ll unlock her guarded heart and hope that this time around, he’ll treasure the key.

AMAZON

That man . . . grr. I wanted to strangle him and kiss him and kick him and lick him all in the same moment.

I simply adore this series. I cannot get enough of it. I was immediately hooked the second I read Runaway Road, and it seems to only get better with each book!

If you know me or follow my reviews, then you already know I’m a sucker for a second chance romance. So suffice it to say that I gobbled this story up with a spoon and licked my fingers after for good measure. It was delicious!

If you’ve read the first book, then you know the premise already. If you haven’t, it’s about a group of teenage runaways that chase their happy as adults in the fixed up cadillac that they slept in as kids. Now it’s Gemma’s turn and I couldn’t wait to get beneath this woman’s layers. Gemma is the uber successful one of the group. She’s put everything into building her business and her empire. So much so, that she’s left every other aspect of her life on hold. Nothing gives her meaning anymore. She got her success but she still feels numb. So she sells her business, gets the cadillac from her friend, and drives to the sleepy town that was once a stopover that left an imprint on her soul.

Easton and Gemma shared one night together before she left him and the town in her rearview. But it was so much more. So much, in fact, that neither forgot about the other. And one Gemma is unnerved to see the handsome man again, Easton appears flat out mad and eager to chase her out. A dare causes her to stay and soon the chemistry between them doesn’t take long to rekindle.

I loved the push and pull between the two of them. Gemma has plenty of scars left on her soul from her past. And nothing was more satisfying then watching her let Easton in, little by little, until he fully gets through all her walls. Easton was as stubborn as they come and Gemma’s leaving hurt him more than he wants to admit.

Everything about this story was fantastic. The small town feel and its inhabitants. Easton’s family and the way they so easily bring Gemma back into their fold. Gemma’s reunion with her best friend that she left behind and making things right. And the romance between her and Easton? Perfection.

I’m obsessed with this series and I’m already craving the next book. Unrequited love? SIGN. Me. UP.

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Review: The Dare by Elle Kennedy

June 17, 2020 by · Leave a Comment

THE DARE
Series: Briar U #4
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Elle Kennedy
Release Date: June 16, 2020

College was supposed to be my chance to get over my ugly-duckling complex and spread my wings. Instead, I wound up in a sorority full of mean girls. I already have a hard time fitting in, so when my Kappa Chi sisters issue the challenge, I can’t say no.

The dare: seduce the hottest new hockey player in the junior class.

Conor Edwards is a regular at Greek Row parties…and in Greek Row sorority beds. He’s the one you fall for before you learn that guys like him don’t give girls like me a second glance. Except Mr. Popular throws me for a loop—rather than laughing in my face, he does me a solid by letting me take him upstairs to pretend we’re getting busy.

Even crazier, now he wants to keep pretending. Turns out Conor loves games, and he thinks it’s fun to pull the wool over my frenemies’ eyes.

But resisting his easy charm and surfer-boy hotness is darn near impossible. Though I’m realizing there’s much more to Conor’s story than his fan club can see.

And the longer this silly ruse goes on, the greater the danger of it all blowing up in my face.

AMAZON

Yup, hungering for Conor Edwards is very, very bad. Because he’s exactly the kind of man who will break my heart. Even if he doesn’t mean to.

I’m like a kid at a candy store when it comes to Elle Kennedy books. Every time she releases a new one, I do a happy squeal and a dance around the room. I just can’t help myself. Her books are my happy place.

Now don’t pay much mind to my rating. Because a 3.5 star for me means that I enjoyed it. Quite a bit actually. This was a super cute, slow burn, friends-to-lovers trope with plenty of laughs and deliciously steamy. Of course I will never get enough of the Briar boys, so I was all over this like white on rice.

Conor. *swoons* Who doesn’t like a sexy goofball that’s quite the manwh*re but with a heart of gold and plenty of hidden insecurities and vulnerabilities. Certainly not me. I fell fast and hard for this man.

Taylor and Conor are a total case of opposites attracting. Taylor is trying to survive her sorority one ridiculous dare at a time. With some catty girls that certainly have it out for her, it’s not as easy for her to slide under the radar at their parties. So when she gets dared by one of her more catty sorority sisters to pick up the hottest guy at the party, she goes for it. And tells him exactly what she’s doing and begs for his help. Conor, being the true gentleman that he is, is happy to oblige. And so begins the cutest friendship with an overload of sexual tension. It was sew gewd! I absolutely loved these two together.

What I didn’t love was the amount of time this story focused on their insecurities. Taylor and her body issues eventually began to wear on me. I think us females all suffer from this so I can absolutely sympathize with a girl that’s on the curvier side who is constantly surrounded by skinny perfection having some body issues. But she focuses so much on this, that it began to wear on me. It’s all she thinks about. I was thrilled to see her finally grow a backbone towards the later part of the story and begin to come out of this shell, but I’m not going to lie, it did drive me a bit crazy. Considering that Conor has his own insecurities to boot with not being good enough and going from dirt poor to the rich and have everything side and still feeling like he doesn’t belong. However, so much of the story concentrated on this, that it began to wane my interest a bit. I found myself pausing more than usual and it took me a lot longer to finish than any other Elle Kennedy book.

That being said, the ending of the story certainly made up for a lot of this. I loved seeing Taylor take back her power and the way that things resolve in her sorority. I also really loved the way that her and Conor both fight for each other. They’re not my favorite Briar couple, but they’re still up there. There’s a secondary relationship that happens in this book that I absolutely LOVED. It served up some laughs to boot.

If you’re looking for a swoony and steamy New Adult sports romance, this will certainly fit the bill. Was it my favorite in the series. Not quite. But it still hit the spot just right.

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Review: Treachery by Lily White

June 17, 2020 by · Leave a Comment

TREACHERY
Series: Antihero Inferno #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Elle Kennedy
Release Date: May 27,2020

Ninth Circle.
Treachery.
Also known as Tanner Caine.

He is a temptation with cold, dark eyes.
A man with a seductive smirk and a body built for pure sin.
The linchpin of a group of wealthy bad boys known as the Inferno.

A dark presence that repels as much as he attracts, Tanner is the poisoned apple I want to bite even when I know it will destroy me.

Our story started in college, but I ran from him so far I believed I was safe.
I should have known he’d find me eventually.
I should have known that nobody escapes.

He has me in his sights again with an offer I can’t pass up.
I know better than to make a deal with the Devil.
Not unless I’m willing to pay his sensual price…

***Each novel in the series depicts a unique romance, but the plots through each book connect in one world. For the best experience, read the series in order.

Nine Standalone novels. Nine dangerous men. Nine unrepentant sinners you’ll hate to love.

AMAZON

Just remember not to start games you can’t finish. I’m the type of guy who will keep playing them until you beg me to stop.”

SHUT THE FRONT DOOR. TWICE.

What kind of rock have I been living under all of this time that this is my first Lily White book? And what kind of friends even are you that you haven’t smacked me over the head to read her sooner? *eyeing all of you* Except you, Ratula. We’re still going steady. And thanks for rec. I owe you one 🙂

But in all seriousness, how? HOW have I not read her before. I love me the dark stuff, and I do hear that Lily writes DARK. However, if you’re a bit of a puss, don’t worry, this isn’t on that level. It’s more twisty and gritty rather than dark. And this girl gobbled it right up with a spoon and begged for seconds!

He takes without asking. Traps me without apology. Seduces me without effort. A maelstrom. That’s what Tanner is.

The premise is delicious. Nine anti-heroes. Each with their own particular brand of tortured. Each unique and magnetic and with one shared goal, to bring down the patriarch that continue to pull their chain until they’re fully out from their influence. Sounds intriguing? Well it’s even better than it sounds.

Tanner is Treachery. He’s enigmatic and cold without a care for anyone but his own calculated agenda. Suffice it to say I wanted to have his babies the second he appeared on the page. And Luca was the fly that landed right into his spider web…but it certainly wasn’t by accident.

How is it possible to want someone so much when you absolutely hate them?

Now if you’re like me and enemies to lovers is your jam, prepare for this to be the best book crack ever. Because OH MY GOD.

If there’s one thing that I love in the enemies to lovers trope, besides a hero that’s deliciously MEAN, is a heroine that can give as good as she gets. And Luca is certainly that. The woman goes head to head with one of the most feared and intimidating man, and doesn’t bat an eyelash. The first time her and Tanner meet, she’s in college and while she’s a bit introverted and shy, she’s still no pushover. But when these two reunite years later, Luca certainly has had time to come into her own. And boy does she make Tanner work for it.

She’s the girl who thinks she got away, and fortunately for me, circumstances have landed her firmly back in my grasp. I’ll have her screaming my name before I let her go again-one way or another.

The banter and their push and pull dynamic was one of the most delicious I’ve read in a while. If you like your anti-heroes mean, and I mean MEAN, then you’ll fall head over ovaries for Tanner. The man is damn near vicious when need be. But behind the callous words and cold calculation, there beats something a little more. Something more vulnerable and hidden. Something that Luca is able to peel the layers back from.

He didn’t just kiss, he possessed, claimed, dominated until you couldn’t think past the way his lips felt and the hard body pressed against you.

I was immediately hooked on this book and instantly hooked and addicted on this series. As much as I loved Tanner and as much as he took center stage in the story, I was so intrigued by the other men. You get plenty of page time with Gabe, which makes sense, since his story is next, and I’m already gagging for it. But I have absolutely zero chill when it comes to it and want them all now!

If you’re looking for something gritty, sexy, with a layer of mystery and suspense that will have you reading well into the night and incapable of setting it down; READ. THIS. BOOK.

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Review: Hard Pass by Sara Ney

June 16, 2020 by · Leave a Comment

HARD PASS
Series: Trophy Boyfriends #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Sara Ney
Release Date: June 16, 2020

“Hard pass.”

That’s what the last girl I slept with said when she got her first sober glimpse of me. She laughed, walked out of my penthouse—and I never saw her again. It doesn’t matter that I’m a rich, professional athlete; what mattered was my face.

Beauty might only be skin deep for some—but I know better.

“Pay up.”

That’s what the last girl I spoke to said over the phone when I made her an offer she couldn’t refuse.

Desperate to sell a set of rare baseball cards, she’s clever and entertaining. I’m instantly smitten, but nowhere ready to reveal myself. Thank god she has no idea who I am—or what I look like.
I’m a professional athlete–how hard can playing the love game be?

AMAZON

There’s nothing wrong with being a nice guy! Why do guys hate that so much?”
“Because, Miranda, nice guys usually only finish first in the movies. They are not the trophy boyfriends every girl wants.”

A new series from Sara Ney and with some baseball thrown in? SIGN ME THE H*LL UP, I SAY! To say that I’ve been eagerly anticipating this book may be a mild understatement. Rabid may be an apt description of my need. I’ve been chomping at the bit to get my hands on this book, so the second it landed on my kindle, I jumped on it faster than you can say “gimme”.

As much as I love reading about those sexy alpha males, I do love a good underdog story. And when it comes to Noah, he was one of the most endearing underdogs. As a matter of fact, he reminded me so much of Rhett from The Learning Hours. And y’all, I loved Rhett from The Learning Hours. Noah is a professional baseball player and a total recluse. Being a shortstop for the Chicago Steam means he gets plenty of attention for his skill and money. But he’s not exactly raking it in with the ladies. He’s a genuinely nice guy but with plenty of insecurities when it comes to his looks. So when he sees a woman selling a rare baseball card on the internet that he’s desperate for, he’s too shy to go himself, and sends his womanizing teammate to pretend to be him. Suffice it to say the meeting doesn’t go as planned and hilarity ensues.

Miranda has had it with the womanizing and cocky a-holes. And she’s definitely not impressed with Noah’s teammate. Especially when she can’t reconcile the nice guy she’s been talking to on the phone with the cocky jerk that shows up. She wants nothing to do with that guy, but the one on the texts still draws her interest.

I absolutely devoured this book. It was ridiculously cute with a touch of sizzle and plenty of laughs. I loved Noah. This is a guy that you can’t help but to root for. He’s adorably awkward but he’s still all alpha male when it comes to pleasing his woman. GOD but I loved him. Miranda was the perfect balance to his quirks and insecurities and I absolutely loved the two of them together. Add in the quirky secondary characters like Buzz and I blinked and realized I was done with the book. I’m so hooked on this new series and seriously can’t wait for the next one. As much as I love the nice guys, I hope we’ll get a few a-holes out of this series too.

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Review: Sweet Spot by Rebecca Jenshak

May 28, 2020 by · Leave a Comment

SWEET SPOT
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Rebecca Jeshak
Release Date: May 28, 2020

A hot-headed college golfer falls for her swing coach in this fun and sexy sports romance.

Lincoln Reeves may be a pro golfer and revered swing coach, but when I meet him, he is just one more person telling me I’m not good enough.

So, I do what any girl in my position would do. I tell him to get lost and take his arrogant, annoying smirk with him. I never expect to see him again. I certainly don’t expect to run into him that same night after one too many tequila shots.

Turns out that he’s kind of a big deal. Okay, fine, a really big deal. In fact, he might be the one person who can take my game to the next level.

Convincing him to help will be difficult.

Not throwing my club at his handsome face when he makes me work harder than I thought humanly possible will be excruciating.

But not falling for him will be the hardest thing of all.

AMAZON

 
This was a super cute, light-hearted and sweet read.

Now truth be told, I’m not a golf fan. *whispers* I’d rather watch grass grow. Stop judging me! It’s not my sport, mkay? But I AM a huge Rebecca Jenshak fan. So when she puts a grumpy golf pro and a a hot-headed college golfer in a blurb, you bet I’m going to be all over it like white on rice.

Lincoln Reeves and Keira were wonderful together. There’s no angst. No crazy drama. Just two people falling for each other. Keira is a talented golfer that has the coach from hell and desperate to prove herself. Lincoln is someone that can spot raw talent and instantly recognizes it in Keira. Their first meeting isn’t exactly smooth and there may be some spilled tequila involved, but it doesn’t take Keira long to recognize Lincoln’s potential to help get her to where she wants to be. he may be handsome but he’s not the arrogant athlete she first took him for. What begins as coaching soon turns to something neither of them expected.

Now don’t be side eyeing my rating here. Because a 3.5 star means I enjoyed it. And the low star rating has nothing to do with the writing or the book, and more with my personal preference. When I read grumpy golf pro, I expected grump. And Lincoln wasn’t that at all. He was super sweet, albeit a bit jaded on relationships since he’s a workaholic that loves his job. Personally, this was a touch too sweet and fluffy for my personal tastes, but it was still an entertaining read. Heck, it actually got me to enjoy golf and learn some technical terms I never knew I had an interest in. It may not quite have hit the spot for me, but this may have been because I set my expectations for more grumpy and maybe a little more of the hate to love banter. If you love light and easy reads, this one will certainly hit the spot. And if we’re being entirely truthful here, I have every intention of buying the paperback for this cover. And you don’t get to judge me for it! That. Damn. Finger. Bite.

Rebecca Jenshak is a self-proclaimed margarita addict, college basketball fanatic, and Hallmark channel devotee.

A Midwest native transplanted to the desert, she likes being outdoors (drinking on patios) and singing (in the shower) when she isn’t writing books about hot guys and the girls who love them.

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GIVEAWAY

The author is giving away a $50 Amazon Gift Card on her author page. Please direct readers there to enter: www.facebook.com/rebeccajenshak

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Review: Dream Maker by Kristen Ashley

May 26, 2020 by · Leave a Comment

DREAM MAKER
Series: Dream Team #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Kristen Ashley
Release Date: May 26, 2020

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Dream Man and Rock Chick series comes a brand new story about love, friendship, and the bonds of sisterhood.

Evie is a bonafide nerd and a hyper-intelligent chick who has worked her whole life to get what she wants. Growing up, she had no support from her family and has only ever been able to rely on herself. So when Evie decides she wants to earn her engineering degree, she realizes she needs to take an alternative path to get there. She takes a job dancing at Smithie’s club thinking this would be a quick side gig, where she can make the money she needs. But with her lack of dancing skills and an alpha bad boy who becomes overly protective, Evie realizes this might not be as easy as she thought.

Daniel “Mag” Magnusson knows a thing or two about pain, but the mask he wears is excellent. No one can tell that this good-looking, quick-witted, and roguish guy has deep-seated issues. Mag puts on a funny-guy routine so he can hide his broken heart and PTSD. But when Evie dances her way into Mag’s life, he realizes that he needs to come face-to-face with the demons of his past if he wants a future with her.

AMAZON

All my life, you know?”
“All your life what, baby?”
“Until you.”
He curved both arms around me and his voice was growly when he asked, “Until me, what?”
“The people I loved made loving them hard. Until you.”

*giddy wiggle*

Hey! Pssst! You there! You listening to this? Because this cynic just read a KA book and loved it! No but seriously. Guys. I seriously got my KA mojo back with this book and I’m so thrilled because now I’m also seriously hooked on this series!

So here’s the tea. It had the following:

1. A heroine that’s dorky, somewhat a klutz, but beautiful with hair up to THERE and curves in the right places.
2. A hero that can probably hold a conversation using only “yeah”, “babe”, and grunts
3. A heroine that’s down on her luck but has a vagina spun from gold because everyone and I mean EVERYONE falls for her. Even the bad guys.
4. A lot of action
5. Plenty of secondary characters hilarious antics, including a cross over with Rock Chicks and Dream Man.
6. A ‘comando’ hero
7. Hot shmexy loving
8. A new cast of characters in the form of gorgeous but down on their luck women who turn to stripping but the strip club owner is THE BEST
9. Male characters that will never pronounce a hard consonant at the end of their words.
10. Girlfriends that get into crazy situations but stay tight through all of it.

And this girl is giddy with excitement!!! Why? Because this is the vintage KA I love and missed.

Now look, if you’ve read ANY KA book in the past, you know exactly what I’m talking about. It may sound crazy to any who haven’t read her, but for me, this tried and true formula of hers just does it for me. And if the chemistry is there for the MCs, then I’m putty in your hands.

Evie and Danny were so good together. Their chemistry was undeniable. And what I really loved was that the action kept going well beyond the 50% mark of the book. In the last few KA books, I’ve admittedly grown bored by the halfway mark and felt like the rest was filler, but not here. There was a lot of book here, and all of it was GOOD.

It’s not everyday you meet a cast of strippers that you just absolutely fall in love with and are dying to read their stories. And can we just talk about the set up for the second book? Because GAH! But let me not get ahead of myself here and focus on this one.

Evie was fantastic. Of course everyone, their mother, and their uncle Harry loved her. But she’s impossible not to love. Except, unfortunately for some deadbeat members of her family that get her in life threatening danger.

Danny is a guy she gets set up on a date with by her friend and coworker, and they have instant sparks. And of course when he finds out she’s in danger, he immediately moves her in with him and will move heaven and earth to protect her. And this girl gobbled it right up.

Yes, it’s a tried and true formula but with a cast of new faces, and it just worked, you guy. It worked so well. This was like a combination of Rock Chicks and Dream Man and it was delicious! I was immediately hooked and I’m already desperate for more!

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Review: Dirty Charmer by Emma Chase

May 22, 2020 by · Leave a Comment

DIRTY CHARMER
Series: Royally #3
Genre: Contemporary Romance 
Author: Emma Chase
Release Date: May19, 2020

“If I try to kiss you at midnight, when I’m off shift and you’re officially not a client anymore . . . would you let me?”

Abigail Haddock is stunning, sensible, and some would say . . . stuffy. But it’s not really her fault. She was raised in one of Wessco’s oldest, most affluent, aristocratic families—“stuffy” is their middle name. So is successful. Abby’s working overtime to distinguish herself as a top-notch physician, just as her family legacy demands.

She doesn’t have time for nonsense.

Tommy Sullivan’s all about nonsense.

Sure, he’s an elite bodyguard with lethal skills and co-owner of the renowned, S&S Securities Firm—protector of the wealthy and titled. But he’s also rowdy, fun and thoroughly irresistible.

Tommy knows how to have a good time, and he’s never seen someone more in need of a good time than Abby. The lass needs long, wet, filthy kisses—STAT—and he’s just the man for the job.

It doesn’t take long for a wildly sexy, sinfully satisfying, no-strings attached arrangement to turn into something more. Something sweet and addictive and real. But Tommy and Abby are too royally stubborn to admit it.

Opposites attract, everyone knows that. But can they last—can they love…for forever?

AMAZON | iBOOKS | AUDIBLE | NOOK | KOBO | GOOGLE PLAY 

Tommy Sullivan is a beautiful whirlwind that I can’t let myself get caught up in.

What happens when you put together an easy-going playboy bodyguard and a straight-laced and driven surgeon in training? The cutest stinking romance ever, that’s what! This was opposites attract perfection and I loved every page of it!

I’ve been chomping at the bit to get my grabby little hands on Tommy’s story. I loved him as a secondary characters, and I just knew that I was going to fall head over ovaries for him as a hero. And you know what? I was not wrong!

You know what they say about men with big brains, don’t you? We’re big everywhere.”
“Are you implying there’s a correlation between the size of your brain and the size of your genitals?”
His brow furrows. “Well, I wouldn’t have used those words—ever. But yeah, that’s what I’m saying.”

There’s just something so free spirited about Tommy. He’s always quick to joke and even quicker to smile. I loved his fun and outgoing personality. The man has zingers for days and I couldn’t get enough.

Abigail is his opposite in every way. In a family of overachievers, all she’s ever known was her need to be the best cardiac surgeon. She’s driven to a fault with only one thing in sight. Men don’t even factor into the equation. Even when they’re stupidly handsome and persistent as Tommy.

She’s a designer drug—cut just for me. Those qualities had me hooked from the very beginning, kept me coming back and back for another fix. And now they’ve got me strung out. Scraped raw over her.

I loved the romance between the two of them because it catches both of them off guard. Neither saw the other coming and there’s something so fun about watching them fall for each other. Where Tommy is quicker on the uptake, Abigail takes a little more time and convincing. I loved that in particular, because it’s a change of pace between the heroine trying to chase the playboy, and you have the playboy having to chase the woman and she definitely makes him work for it.

Their chemistry was through the roof! This put a smile on my face from the very first page and kept it there until the end. Simply delicious!

Emma Chase is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the hot and hilarious Tangled series and The Legal Briefs series. Emma lives in New Jersey with her husband, two children and two naughty (but really cute) dogs. She has a long-standing love/hate relationship with caffeine.

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